In the Arctic it occupies the tundra, breeding at wetlands with mosses and sedges. It is pelagic in winter. Its prey includes invertebrates and small fish and occasionally small birds and eggs of Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) and of conspecifics. It also feeds on carrion and fish discards. Breeding birds feed mainly on terrestrial prey in marshes. During the non-breeding season it feeds by swooping low over water and snatches prey from surface and sometimes swims, or feeds on land (Burger and Gochfeld 2013).

Although the generation length for both EU and Europe regional assessments were calculated using the same methodology, new information arriving after the EU assessments were undertaken gave rise to an update in the generation lengths. This new information was then used for the Europe level assessments giving rise to a difference between the generation lengths used for the EU and Europe regions.

In Europe, the species breeds in Greenland and on Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Conservation Actions Underway
Listed under the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement. Listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention. It is listed within six marine Important Bird Areas across the region. Within the EU it is listed in two Special Protection Areas in Spain.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Identification of Important Bird Areas in the Arctic region, and subsequent designation as protected areas, with particular emphasis on sites at sea.